tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post3932152527514867198..comments2024-03-28T10:44:30.518-06:00Comments on American Creation: The Founders: the very human products of a Golden AgeBrad Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669677047039491864noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-85778574733203597932010-10-12T23:09:27.974-06:002010-10-12T23:09:27.974-06:00Jason,
I agree with you. In many ways we have lo...Jason,<br /><br />I agree with you. In many ways we have lost much. but we can achieve the same greatness of the Founders if we choose to. National decline is a choice. we can choose to embrace the ideals and values and virtues of the Founders if we choose. and we can act accordingly.Mark D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05000893614655251587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-33198743097275689772010-10-12T11:59:46.759-06:002010-10-12T11:59:46.759-06:00I agree with you Mark and sympathize with your asp...I agree with you Mark and sympathize with your aspirations. While we've added to the achievements of our Founding Fathers, I also believe that there's much that we've lost. I don't see an appreciation of the civil virtue, appreciation of natural rights, and insight into human nature that was common among our Founders. <br /><br />The Founding Fathers thought that England, which they had admired, had become corrupt. One wonders what they would have thought of today’s America. You’re right; it would be a betrayal of their spirit if we viewed the Founding as a rare never-to-be-repeated event and lose hope for our future.Jason Pappashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18233796281520274898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-69152458173906490442010-10-12T09:45:36.872-06:002010-10-12T09:45:36.872-06:00I don't disagree that America is an exceptiona...I don't disagree that America is an exceptional country. What I disagree with is the idea that we can't improve on the Founding as our republic continues to grow and mature. In many ways, there were fundamental flaws in the political and social environment of the Founding -- slavery being the most obvious example but not the only one. On that point, we only really lived out the truths found in the Declaration of Independence after the ratification of the Civil Rights Amendments at the close of the Civil War. And then it took another 100 years or so to fully realize the legal rights provided to all Americans by those Civil Rights Amendments.<br /><br />Were the Founders unique? Absolutely. But can their work be improved upon? Can we make a country that is more free, more republican (with a small "r"), more virtuous, more civic while at the same time more individualistic? I think we can. I think we can build on their achievements and do better than they did. But we have to want to. We have to see it as possible. And we have to prepare ourselves to do it. <br /><br />If we can -- if we follow McCollough's advice -- we can create a new golden age.Mark D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05000893614655251587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-61263136799281870392010-10-12T05:30:26.072-06:002010-10-12T05:30:26.072-06:00But, Mr. (Dr.?) Pappas,
Don't you think that t...But, Mr. (Dr.?) Pappas,<br />Don't you think that the British were civilized, and understood dissent, because of their own religious dissent from Catholicism? Today, absolutized governments, or Statism is what disallows dissent?Angie Van De Merwehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617299120618867829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-38228147838013120872010-10-11T22:02:30.619-06:002010-10-11T22:02:30.619-06:00If I think of all the revolutions around the world...If I think of all the revolutions around the world <i>since</i> the American Revolution, I'm inclined to side with McDonald about this exceptional period.Jason Pappashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18233796281520274898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-36369136426556911922010-10-11T12:54:21.859-06:002010-10-11T12:54:21.859-06:00No matter what you personally might think of Ronal...No matter what you personally might think of Ronald Reagan, it has been reported that even his political enemies like him. That is, those that had real interaction with him. <br /><br />Why was he one of the most popular presidents? He popularized the "vision" of the Founders, I think. He cast "hope" and he had a sense of humor, too.<br /><br /><br />I think it is important to understand and know what our Founders thought and how they understood government, because otherwise we are not building on a foundation, but a "dream"...<br /><br />I do think that our form of government is necessary to understand, because otherwise, we can't think through the present issues with realistic "hope" or vision...but part of this is understanding the political philosophy behind the Founders and their "vision"...Angie Van De Merwehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617299120618867829noreply@blogger.com